Blues to do talking on pitch after difficult week

The Blues face reigning kings of Europe Leinster in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals at the Aviva Stadium.

And they have not had an ideal week of preparation following a crushing 31-3 PRO12 defeat at the hands of Glasgow Warriors last Friday.

First, on Monday, they terminated the contract of Gavin Henson due to alcohol-fuelled incidents during the journey back from Scotland.

And on Tuesday they were dealt the hammer blow that star centre Jamie Roberts, who was central to Wales' recent Six Nations Grand Slam, was ruled out of the clash.

Roberts has been battling a knee injury since the opening Heineken Cup clash with Racing Metro and has suffered a succession of set-backs.

Roberts endured the latest reoccurence against the Warriors and requires anterior cruciate ligament surgery and will be sidelined for at least six months.

The Blues admits it has been a difficult week but they insist off-field issues should not overshadow their mouth-watering European showdown.

"One incident should not overshadow something put in place from last August when our focus was to qualify for the latter stages of the Heineken Cup," said forwards coach Justin Burnell.

"That was one of the main targets and it is one we have hit. People need to remember that."

Backs coach Gareth Baber defended the Blues decision and insists swift action was essential to allow sole focus on the Aviva Stadium showdown.

"It was not welcome news coming back on Saturday morning," said Baber.

"The players went out, several of them went out. But they did not take it to the excess that that individual (Henson) did.

They came back to the hotel and they were fine.

"They are grown men and they are professionals. It takes a lot for players to wind down.

"Obviously it was a bit disappointing to be in that situation on Saturday morning but that's the way it was.

"We did not want it this week but it has been dealt with. We felt that was necessary so we could focus our minds on what we need to do."

Henson would have been in line to feature against Leinster following Roberts' season-ending injury.

But Baber is confident the Blues have the strength in depth to cope with the midfield duos absence.

"Losing Jamie is a blow but we still have two players in Dafydd Hewitt and Gavin Evans, who epitomise the culture we are trying to develop here - they give their all for the cause and are professional to the end."